Apparatus for pneumatically tensioning and collecting circular knit hosiery articles

ABSTRACT

This apparatus is particularly adapted to use with circular hosiery knitting machines and operates to prevent twisting of the hosiery fabric as it is being produced on the knitting machine. The apparatus includes an article retaining chamber with a rotating article support in a medial portion of the retaining chamber and on which the lower portion of the hosiery article is accumulated during the knitting process. Upon completion of the knitting of the article, the article is withdrawn through a vacuum source positioned above the article support and removed to a suitable collection point.

United States Patent 1191 Erackett et a1.

1451 July 17,1973

[ APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY TENSIONING AND COLLECTING CIRCULAR KNIT HOSIERY ARTICLES [75] Inventors: Bobby II. Brackett; Charles A.

Jaynes, both of Loudon, Tenn.

[73] Assignee: Charles H. Bacon Company, Inc.,

Lenoir City, Tenn.

22 Filed: May 23, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 147,936

[52] US. Cl. 66/149 S [51] Int. Cl. D041) 15/42 [58] Field of Search 66/149 R, 149 S,

[56] Referencesv Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,063,275 11/1962 Luchi 66/149 S 3,096,634 7/1963 Capes et a1. 66/150 3,108,462 10/1963 Tenconi 66/149 S 3,159,015 12/1964 Moretta... .66/149 S 3,550,403 12/1970 Shields.... 66/150 3,668,900 6/1972 Peet 66/149 S Tew ...66/149R Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey Att0meyParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT This apparatus is particularly adapted to use with circular hosiery knitting machines and operates to prevent twisting of the hosiery fabric as it is being produced on the knitting machine. The apparatus includes an article retaining chamber with a rotating article support in a medial portion of the retaining chamber and on which the lower portion of the hosiery article is accumulated during the knitting process. Upon completion of the knitting of the article, the article is withdrawn through a vacuum source positioned above the article support and removed to a suitable collection point.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 1 3 ,745,794 14 1 July 17, E973 Wnitefi States Patent 1191 Brackett et al.

APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATICALLY TENSIONHNG AND COLLECTING CIRCULAR KNIT HOSTERY ARTICLES The present invention relates generally to an improved means for pneumatically tensioning and supporting hosiery articles as they are being knitted on a circular hosiery knitting machine and more particularly to an improved device which eliminates twisting of elongated hosiery blanks, such as panty hose blanks and the like, while they are being knit.

Most circular hosiery knitting machines were manufactured at a time when ladies wore stockings extending up to the middle of the thigh. The knitting of longer stockings and panty hose blanks causes a twisting problem which was not present when knitting. the shorter stocking blanks. If these very long panty hose blanks are knit on a conventional knitting machine having a bend in the hosiery conveying tube, they twist into a rope form as the lower end moves into the bend in the tube and this requires a manual untwisting by an opera-.

tor before the hosiery blanks can be finished, as by toe closing and the like. Also, when these articles are knit with long or loose stitches and 'of a textured yarn to provide stretchability, the twisting together causes the yarns to cling to each other and picks often occur when they are subsequently untwisted.

Numerous devices have been proposed for pneumatically applying downward tension on hosiery as it is being knit and for minimizing or eliminating the twisting of the hosiery article. However, these prior devices have not had widespread commercial use because they involve costly modifications to the knitting machine and do not provide trouble free operation. Also, some of these devices require rotation of the funnel-shaped guide tube inside of the needle cylinder so that the conventional fabric guide tins can not be used.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which eliminates the twisting of the hosiery blank and the inherent problems associated with this twisting problem, and which apparatus may be easily and economically applied to existing circular hosiery knitting machines with very little modification being required.

In accordance with this invention, an article retaining chamber is spaced beneath the needle cylinder of the knitting machine and the hosiery blank is drawn downwardly into the retaining chamber by air currents. An article support means is supported for rotation in a media] portion of the retaining chamber and is driven at the same speed as the needle cylinder so that the lower end of the hosiery blank engages and accumulates on and above the article support means until knitting of the blank is completed. Sufiicient clearance is provided between the outer. portion of the rotating support means and the inner portion of the retaining chamber so that air currents may be drawn around the rotating support and to thereby apply uniform downward ten- I sion on the hosiery blank even after a substantial length means. Control means is provided for, initially drawing the hosiery blank downwardly into the retaining chamsiery article from the retaining chamber by a second vacuum source.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic fragmentary elevational view of a portion of a conventional circular hosiery knitting machine, illustrating the pneumatic tensioning and twist eliminating apparatus of the present invention associated therewith, and a FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional cabinet view, at an enlarged scale, of the lower portion of the article retaining chamber and illustrating the rotating article support means in which the lower end portion of the hosiery blank is supported and accumulated as the hosiery article is being knit.

The present twist eliminating device may be used with any of a number of different types of circular hosiery knitting machines which are currently in use, or with new knitting machines. The circular knitting machine may be of a single feed or multiple feed type and only those portions of a circular hosiery knitting machine are illustrated which are necessary to an understanding of the operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

Generally, the knitting machine includes a hollow rotating needle cylinder 10 which is suitably supported for rotation in a bed plate 11 and is rotated by means of bevel gears 12, 13 which are suitably connected to the main drive of the knitting machine. A sinker cap 14 is supported at the upper end of the needle cylinder 10 and is maintained in a stationary position as the sinkers, not shown, cooperate with the needles, not shown, in the formation of the knit fabric. A fabric guide tube 15 is supported inside of the needle cylinder 10 for directing the article downwardly through the needle cylinder as it is being knit. The fabric guide tube 15 is supported in a fixed, non-rotating position and has a funnelshaped upper end portion 16 which is provided with the usual type of fabric guide wires or fins, not shown, which aid in the casting-off of the fabric from the needles at each knitting station.

A dial cap 20 is supported in the upper end of the needle cylinder 10 and contains the usual transfer bits, not shown, which rotate with the needles in the needle cylinder and are utilized in the usual manner to form a turned welt portion on the hosiery blank.'The transfer bits are supported for radial movement in a dial bed, not shown, which is rotated by means of a drive which includes a bevel gears 21, 22 and a drive shaft 23 which is suitably connected to the main drive of the knitting machine. A gear support housing 24 is pivotally supported at one end to the machine frame and supports the bevel gear 22 and drive shaft 23 so that the latch ring, not shown, and the dial 20 may be raised.

The article support and twist eliminating device of the present invention includes an article retaining chamber, broadly indicated at C, spaced beneath the needle cylinder 10 and being connected thereto by conduit means, including a flexible coupling 30 so that the article being knit is directed downwardly from the needle cylinder and its lower end passes into the retaining chamber C.

The article retaining chamber C is preferably formed of clear plastic material so that an operator may easily her by a first vacuum source and then removing the hoobserve the presence or absence of a hosiery article or blank therein. The chamber C is larger in crosssectional diameter than the conduit means and includes an outwardly flared upper end portion 32 which is connected at its upper end to the flexible coupling 30 and its lower end is fixed in the upper portion of a connector sleeve 33. A cylindrical chamber housing 34 is connected at its upper end in the sleeve 33 and its lower end is connected to a inwardly tapered lower end portion 35 of the chamber C.

Article support means is supported for rotation in a medial portion of the retaining chamber C and includes a perforated disc 40 with an inwardly tapering sleeve 41 fixed thereto. The disc 40 and upstanding sleeve 41 collectively define a cup for receiving and supporting the lower end of the hosiery blank as it is drawn downwardly thereinto by suction, in a manner to be presently described.

Drive means is provided for rotating the article support means at the same speed as the needle cylinder and includes a drive shaft 42 which is fixed at its upper end to the perforated disc 40 and is supported for rotation adjacent its upper end in the inner race of a ball bearing 44. The outer race of the ball bearing 44 is supported in a sleeve or bushing 45, the lower end of which is fixed on a perforated support plate 46. A guide sleeve 50 is fixed at its upper end in the perforated support plate 46 and its lower end is supported in a solid support plate 51 which is fixed on the inner surface of the cylindrical housing 34 of the chamber C.

A drive coupling 52 is drivingly connected to the lower end of the shaft 42 and is fixed on the end of a flexible drive, such as a Bowden cable 54. The housing of the drive cable 54 is fixed in a support block 55 in the lower end of the tapered lower end portion 35 of the chamber C. The drive cable 54 may be suitably connected to any rotating portion of the knitting machine so that the perforated disc 40 is rotated at the same speed as the needle cylinder 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the end of the flexible drive cable 54 is drivingly connected to the bevel gear 21 which drives the dial 20. This driving connection is accomplished by means of a drive shaft portion 60 which is connected to the upper portion of the bevel gear 21 and to the flexible cable 54. The housing of the flexible cable 54 is fixed on a support bracket 61 which is carried by the gear support housing 24.

Although the drive for the article support means, formed by the perforated disc 40 and sleeve 41, is illustrated as being driven by a flexible drive cable 54 connected to the dial 20, it is to be understood that the article support means may be rotated by other suitable drive means. For example, the flexible drive cable may be connected to any other suitable rotating part of the knitting machine. Also, the drive shaft 42 may be extended downwardly through the lower end of the chamber C and may be provided with a drive pulley and a drive belt, gears or the like which are drivingly connected to 'any suitable rotating portion of the knitting machine to drive the article support means at the same speed as the needle cylinder 10.

A first vacuum source, in the form of a conduit 65, is suitably communicatively connected to the chamber C and below the article support means for causing air currents to move downwardly in the needle cylinder and to draw the hosiery blank downwardly undertension as it is being knit. When the hosiery blank is of a sufi'lcient length, the lower end portion is drawn downwardly into and accumulates on and above the perforated disc 40 of the article support means. As illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2, air currents are initially drawn downwardly through the perforations in the support disc 40 and the perforations in the support plate 46. As the lower end of the hosiery blank begins to accumulate and be supported on the upper surface of the disc 40, the amount of air which can be drawn through the perforations is restricted and the air currents are then drawn downwardly and around the support disc 40, through the space between the outer portion of the rotating support means and the inner surface of the chamber C. Thus, the downwardly moving air currents continuously apply uniform tension on the hosiery blank while it is being knit.

A second vacuum source, in the form of a conduit 70, is suitably connected at one end to the connector sleeve 33 and above the article support means for withdrawing the hosiery blank, from the retaining chamber C upon completion of the knitting of the hosiery blank, in a manner to be presently described. The first and second vacuum conduits 65, are joined to a main vacuum line 72 which is in turn connected to a vacuum pump 73, rotated by means of a suitable electrical motor 74. An article conveying conduit 75 communicates at one end with the main vacuum line 72 and its other end is connected to a suitable article collection bin or container 76 and into which the hosiery blank is directed so that it may be removed by an operator for inspection and the like. The hosiery blank is blown upw wardly through the conveying conduit 75 and into the container 76 by means of a suitable air jet 80 (FIG. 1), and in a manner to be presently described.

Suitable control means is provided for selectively drawing the air currents from the chamber C and through either the first vacuum source (conduit 65) or the second vacuum source (conduit 70) for respectively applying downward tension on the hosiery blank while it is being knit and for then removing the hosiery blank from the chamber upon completion of the knitting operation. This control means is illustrated in the form of a valve 81 which is pivotally supported at the juncture of the conduits 65, 70 and a control lever 82 is suitably connected to operator means, in the form of a solenoid 83.

With the valve 81 in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1, the first vacuum source (conduit 65) is communicatively connected to the chamber C so that air currents are directed downwardly in the chamber C and pass through and around the support disc 40 to apply downward tension on the hosiery blank as it is being knit. When the solenoid 83 is activiated from any suitable pattern means on the knitting machine, such as the pattern chain or a pattern drum, the valve 81 will move to a vertical position and close off the conduit 65 and open the conduit 70 so that air currents are drawn inwardly through the second vacuum source to withdraw the hosiery blank from the chamber C. The hosiery blank passes through the line 72 and is deposited in the lower portion of the conveying conduit 75. Suitable pattern means, not shown, then operates to actuate the air jet 80 and blow the hosiery blank through the line 75 and into the container 76.

Since the article support means rotates at the same rotationalspeed as the needle cylinder 10, the rotating hosiery blank does not twist because its lower end is rotated at the same speed as the upper portion is rotated while it is being knit. Also, with the present accumulator and twist eliminating device it is possible to utilize the conventional fabric guide tube and the fins normally provided in the funnel-shaped portion 16 to obtain clear, uniform stitch loops in the fabric. The hosiery blank is also drawn downwardly under uniform tension as the air currents are directed downwardly through and around the article support means. The hosiery blank is easily removed from the retaining chamber upon completion of the knitting operation by merely changing the direction of the air currents in the chamber C so that the hosiery blank is withdrawn through the second vacuum source (conduit 70). The accumulator and twist eliminating device of the present invention may be easily applied to different types of circular hosiery knitting machines with very few minor modifications of the machine being required. This device provides a long useful life and requires very little maintenance.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a circular knitting machine for knitting elongate tubular fabric articles for use as hosiery, panty hose and the like, and including a rotating hollow needle cylinder through which the article passes as it is knit, the combination therewith of means for supporting and pneumatically tensioning said articles and for preventing twisting of said articles during knitting, said means comprising 7 a. an article retaining chamber spaced beneath said needle cylinder,

b. conduit means connecting said needle cylinder and said article retaining chamber for directing the article from said needle cylinder and into said retaining chamber,

c. a perforated disc extending transversely of said article retaining chamber and being supported for rotation in a medial portion of said retaining chamber,

d. a sleeve extending upwardly from said perforated disc and being fixed thereto at its lower end for rotation with said disc, said sleeve and said disc collectively forming a cup for receiving and supporting the lower end of the article while it is being knit,

c. drive means for rotating said cup at the same speed as said needle cylinder,

f. a first vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and below said cup for drawing air currents downwardly into said needle cylinder to draw the article downwardly into said retaining chamber and to apply tension thereto as it is being knit, and to cause the lower end portion of the article to accumulate in and above said cup,

g. a second vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and above said cup for withdrawing the article directly from said retaining chamber upon completion of the knitting thereof, and

h. control means operable in timed relationship to operation of said knitting machine for selectively drawing 'air currents from said article retaining chamber (a) and through either said first vacuum source (f) or through said second vacuum source (s)- 2. In a circular knitting machine for knitting elongate tubular fabric articles for use as hosiery, panty hose, and the like, and including a rotating hollow needle cylinder through which the article passes as it is knit, a combination therewith of means for supporting and pneumatically tensioning said articles and for preventing twisting of said articles during knitting, said means comprising a. an article retaining chamber spaced beneath said needle cylinder,

b. conduit means connecting said needle cylinder and said article retaining chamber for directing the article from said needle cylinder and into said retaining chamber,

c. article support means supported for rotation in a medial portion of said retaining chamber,

d. drive means for rotating said article support means at the same speed as said needle cylinder,

e. a first vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and below said article support means for drawing air currents downwardly in said needle cylinder to draw the article downwardly into said retaining chamber and to apply tension thereto as it is being knit, and to cause the lower end portion of the article to accumulate on and above said article support means,

f. a perforated support plate fixed inside of said article retaining chamber and above said first vacuum source (e),

g. bearing means carried by said perforated support plate for supporting said article support means for rotation thereabove,

h. a second vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and above said article support means for withdrawing the article directly from said retaining chamber upon completion of the knitting thereof, and

i. control means operable in timed relationship to op eration of said knitting machine for selectively drawing air currents from said article retaining chamber (a) and through either said first vacuum source (e) or said second vacuum source (h).

3. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 2 wherein said article support means comprises a perforated disc extending transversely of said article retaining chamber, wherein said drive means comprises a vertically disposed drive shaft being fixed at its upper end to said perforated disc and being supported for rotation adjacent its upper end by said bearing means, and said rotational support means further including a solid support plate fixed inside of said article retaining chamber and below said first vacuum source, and means rotatably supporting the lower portion of said drive shaft in said solid support plate.

4. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 3 wherein said drive means includes means drivingly connecting the lower end portion of said drive shaft to a driven part of said machine.

5. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 3 including a driven dial, and wherein said drive means includes a flexible drive cable connected at one end to the lower end of said drive shaft and at its other end to said driven dial. 

1. In a circular knitting machine for knitting elongate tubular fabric articles for use as hosiery, panty hose and the like, and including a rotating hollow needle cylinder through which the article passes as it is knit, the combination therewith of means for supporting and pneumatically tensioning said articles and for preventing twisting of said articles during knitting, said means comprising a. an article retaining chamber spaced beneath said needle cylinder, b. conduit means connecting said needle cylinder and said article retaining chamber for directing the article from said needle cylinder and into said retaining chamber, c. a perforated disc extending transversely of said article retaining chamber and being supported for rotation in a medial portion of said retaining chamber, d. a sleeve extending upwardly from said perforated disc and being fixed thereto at its lower end for rotation with said disc, said sleeve and said disc collectively forming a cup for receiving and supporting the lower end of the article while it is being knit, e. drive means for rotating said cup at the same speed as said needle cylinder, f. a first vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and below said cup for drawing air currents downwardly into said needle cylinder to draw the article downwardly into said retaining chamber and to apply tension thereto as it is being knit, and to cause the lower end portion of the article to accumulate in and above said cup, g. a second vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and above said cup for withdrawing the article directly from said retaining chamber upon completion of the knitting thereof, and h. control means operable in timed relationship to operation of said knitting machine for selectively drawing air currents from said article retaining chamber (a) and through either said first vacuum source (f) or through said second vacuum source (g).
 2. In a circular knitting machine for knitting elongate tubular fabric articles for use as hosiery, panty hose, and the like, and including a rotating hollow needle cylinder through which the article passes as it is knit, a combination therewith of means for supporting and pneumatically tensioning said articles and for preventing twisting of said articles during knitting, said means comprising a. an article retaining chamber spaced beneath said needle cylinder, b. conduit means connecting said needle cylinder and said article retaining chamber for directing the article from said needle cylinder and into said retaining chamber, c. article support means supported for rotation in a medial portion of said retaining chamber, d. drive means for rotating said article support means at the same speed as said needle cylinder, e. a first vacuum source communicatively connected to said retaining chamber and below said article support means for drawing air currents downwardly in said needle cylinder to draw the article downwardly into said retaining chamber and to apply tension thereto as it is being knit, and to cause the lower end portion of the article to accumulate on and above said article support means, f. a perforated support plate fixed inside of said article retaining chamber and above said first vacuum source (e), g. bearing means carried by said perforated support plate for supporting said article support means for rotation thereabove, h. a second vacuum source comMunicatively connected to said retaining chamber and above said article support means for withdrawing the article directly from said retaining chamber upon completion of the knitting thereof, and i. control means operable in timed relationship to operation of said knitting machine for selectively drawing air currents from said article retaining chamber (a) and through either said first vacuum source (e) or said second vacuum source (h).
 3. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 2 wherein said article support means comprises a perforated disc extending transversely of said article retaining chamber, wherein said drive means comprises a vertically disposed drive shaft being fixed at its upper end to said perforated disc and being supported for rotation adjacent its upper end by said bearing means, and said rotational support means further including a solid support plate fixed inside of said article retaining chamber and below said first vacuum source, and means rotatably supporting the lower portion of said drive shaft in said solid support plate.
 4. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 3 wherein said drive means includes means drivingly connecting the lower end portion of said drive shaft to a driven part of said machine.
 5. In a circular knitting machine according to claim 3 including a driven dial, and wherein said drive means includes a flexible drive cable connected at one end to the lower end of said drive shaft and at its other end to said driven dial. 